Mud and Magic Ch. 13

"I think you hurt Borna more than me," Rhys said. "I'm coming in. We'll figure it out together, okay?" He reached for the door handle.

"Rhys, don't!" Lishaka squealed from the inside. But it was too late. The instant Rhys' fingertips touched the door handle, a silent spell went off, launching him across the hallway and knocking the young sorcerer into the opposite wall. Everything went black.

* * * *

A warm body was cuddled up next to him when Rhys came to. His skull thumped angrily but he was fine otherwise. He slowly opened his eyes and looked around. He quickly recognized the ceiling of his own room, dimly illuminated by the single oil lamp on the nightstand. The body next to him, snuggled against his side, belonged to Elara. Her face on the pillow next to him looked deceptively peaceful.

There was a strange weight on the far end of the mattress, just past his feet. Careful, so as not to wake Elara, Rhys pulled himself up onto one elbow. Like a curled-up shadow against the brighter linens rested Borna, the huge dolphin tucked between her thighs. The thing was long enough that the nose was level with her neck. Borna's head came up and twin crimson flames indicated her eyes were open. She moved, very quietly, until her head was close to his.

"What in blazes are you doing here?" Rhys whispered.

"I'm happy to see you too," she hissed back, breathing a kiss onto his cheek. "How do you feel?"

Rhys froze at the sudden and unexpected display of affection. "It wasn't meant as a complaint. Why is everyone assuming the worst tonight?"

"Shhhh, don't wake her," Borna whispered, placing an armored fingertip against his lips. "I'm here to make sure Lishaka doesn't try to finish the job her booby-trapped door started and Chassari is trying to talk some sense into Miss Blow-Up-Her-Boyfriend." Her hand caressed down Rhys' flank, stopping just shy of his crotch. "And... if you have to know, I want to make sure that if you want to bone someone tonight, it's me."

Rhys sighed and flopped back onto his back, causing Elara to sigh in her sleep.

"Why is everyone suddenly obsessed with fucking me?" he asked no one in particular. "Don't we have more important things to deal with?"

Borna crawled up the bed until she could lay down next to Rhys. Her breath was a warm sensation against his skin. "You may not like it but I'm afraid you showed me a side of myself I didn't know existed." She took his hand and placed it against her crotch. She was naked as well -- as naked as her permanently armor-plated body would allow - and her phallus was a hot, throbbing sensation against his fingers. He heard the pouch holding her Disjunction Stone softly clatter against Borna's chitin-plated chest. "I can't stop thinking about what we did at the 'Dryad.'" She gnashed her teeth.

Elara stirred on his other side. Her arm came around and she hugged herself close to him, her honey-golden locks spilling over his shoulder.

"You didn't complain all the time," Rhys whispered, squeezing Borna's rod. The cursed girl gasped sharply. "And I'll happily do it again, the moment things stop being so goddamn complicated. I feel like I'm being pulled in ten different directions at once."

"People call that 'quartering,'" Elara said softly. "I have seen Carver's men do it to some of their prisoners. Ghastly." Her eyes glinted in the feeble light. "Good evening, Borna."

"More like 'good morning,' princess," the cursed girl huffed. "Go back to sleep."

"With you and Rhys holding philosophical debates? How am I supposed to do that?"

Rhys sighed. "I'm sorry. We didn't mean to-"

Elara breathed a kiss onto his cheek. "It's fine. I've had a bad dream and your voices pulled me from it."

"Hilgrun?" Borna asked, earning a clattering slap against her thigh armor from Rhys. She winced.

"Not sure. Some weird voice whispering enticements into my heart, including how I could get my lover back." Elara shivered. "Maybe now Desire is after me? All the more reason to be grateful for waking me up." She leaned over Rhys and breathed a kiss onto Borna's lips, causing the cursed girl to flinch backwards.

"What is it?" Elara asked.

"I-" Borna shook her head. "I'm not used to all the gentle lovemaking stuff."

"That wasn't lovemaking," Elara purred. "That was just a small 'thank you' between friends and soon-to-be battle sisters." Her eyes twinkled. "Rhys liked the view."

"I- what? Leave me out of this!" Rhys protested weakly but only until both Elara's and Borna's fingers converged on his crotch, finding him hard. He pried their fingers off him, holding their hands in one of his each. "Before we go any further, would you please explain what happened at Lishaka's door? I only remember reaching for the handle-"

"You, my dear beleaguered apprentice, took the full brunt of an 'Arcane Rune' spell, right to the chest." Haloryth rose from his covers. To his eyes, the elven spirit seemed to radiate a gentle, dawn-like glow. Her smile was radiant and naughty. "My, what a view. If I had a body, I'd absolutely join in the fun."

"Not you too," Rhys sighed. "So, she trapped her door?"

Haloryth nodded. "You can thank Thurguz and his particular enchantments that a throbbing headache is all the permanent damage you took. Without them, and considering how furious the goblin was, you might have suffered grievous injury."

"Are you talking to your ghost again?" Borna asked, slightly irritated. She withdrew her hand from Rhys' and looked around.

"Yes. Haloryth just explained what kind of spell Lishaka used to trap her door and that I was lucky not to get seriously hurt. What the hell did I do wrong?"

"Like I said back in the Common Room, if someone has to take the blame, it should be me," Elara muttered. "You've spent so much time trying to console me-"

"If she really fucked around with Chassari's sex slaves -- wait, why does our scaled assassin have sex slaves? - she shouldn't be so angry with Rhys. It's not like he went behind her back with me."

Haloryth moved. Before Rhys could ward himself, she had once again taken possession of him.

"Excuse me, Rhys, but I would like to join the discussion. My, that's how an aroused male body feels? I really like the sensation of skin... and armor... against our naked flesh. Hmmm," Haloryth purred. Rhys still couldn't believe that his throat was able to sound so feminine when the spirit was riding him.

You're not in here to feel up my friends! he thought sharply.

Haloryth giggled, using his hands to caress both Elara and Borna. She stopped just short of their crotches, coaxing a sigh from the elf and an annoyed growl from Borna. The cursed girl grasped Rhys' wrist and placed his hand back on her erection. Haloryth squeezed it fondly and moved her hand to an armored hip skirt piece.

"You should consider that Lishaka isn't human. Or elven. Goblins usually do not know the concepts of courtship and romance. As the lowliest of the giantspawn, much of their lives is ruled by instinct instead of cognitive thought. She is a bright girl, that much I have gathered in the short time I've been with you all, she has learned a lot about civilization but such a complex relationship as with you, Rhys, is frighteningly new to her."

"What's so complex about it? They've been fucking around, much like we all did," Borna grumbled, trying to coax Rhys' hand back onto her crotch. Haloryth resisted.

Hopefully she's not tearing apart my wrist -- I need that hand for spellcasting! Rhys thought.

"I sense there's more between those two than simple lust," Haloryth said. "And maybe Lishaka -- besides feeling neglected by Rhys -- struggles with her own guilt and ambivalent feelings towards what happened at Chassari's."

"We can't have her lay booby traps for Rhys though," Elara said. She had curled a shapely leg over Rhys' thigh and slowly rolled her hips against him. Haloryth turned her head and looked her in the eyes. Elara blushed and stopped her sensuous grinding.

"Then it's all the more fortuitous that the five of us will be away for a few days. Maybe upon your return, things will have calmed down somewhat. Oh, and speaking of 'calming down...'" Haloryth closed both of Rhys' hands around his own throbbing erection and stroked it lovingly.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Borna snarled, trying to intervene.

"She's like a mean relative barging in on lovers who have just shed their robes," Elara complained. Suddenly, there were four hands on Rhys' manhood, caressing and stroking until he erupted violently between their fingers.

"Someone should get a towel before this mess seeps everywhere," Haloryth panted. "With this issue dealt with, maybe the three of you will finally find restful sleep."

"You are a blasted spoilsport, you know that?" Borna growled. "Rhys got to spew his seed everywhere but Elara and I are still raring to go!"

Elara slipped out of bed and headed for the bathroom. "I'm good," she said, her voice a melodious hum.

"What, did you--?" Borna growled, gnashing her teeth.

"I'm pretty sure she achieved some form of release while she rode Rhys' leg," Haloryth said. "Don't feel bad. I can help you too, if you want."

"Thanks but no thanks. The idea of an ancient elven spirit jerking me off isn't exactly my idea of fun. Let Rhys do it on his own. Get out of his head already!"

"Your concern for Rhys honors you. Fine. I'll leave. But don't be mean to him or next time it's your head I'll be visiting."

Borna flexed her claws. "Oh, I dare you," she growled.

Elara returned, bringing a towel. One half was wet and she used it to deal with the big puddle of Rhys' juices which had formed on his stomach then she used the dry half to towel him down.

"Please, don't fight, all right?" Rhys muttered when he was alone in his head again. Haloryth had been with him longer than ever before and his mind was filled with nebulous, half-formed, half-forgotten memories he couldn't place. Faces which meant nothing to him yet seemed incredibly familiar.

"You look like you've seen a ghost," Borna muttered, half-jokingly.

"I'm... not sure," Rhys muttered. "Come here. I think I owe you a bit of reprieve."

"Can I watch?" Elara asked, sitting on her ankles.

"Would you piss off if I asked you?" Borna growled, locking gazes with her.

"Probably not," Elara admitted, grinning playfully.

"Then do as you please."

Rhys yawned. Since Haloryth's possession, his headache had miraculously lessened but he was deathly tired. Borna was halfway on her side, halfway on her back, so he scooted downwards until he could close his lips around her tip and snake a hand between her thighs. Borna went rigid against him and gasped as his fingers caressed along her slit. She was very wet already, almost eagerly inviting his fingers. Behind him, he heard Elara sigh but decided not to look, instead concentrating on providing what little pleasure he could give right now. Borna rolled her hips against him, alternately taking his fingers deep into herself and driving about half her length into his mouth. Rhys fluttered his tongue against her throbbing erection and sucked until Borna erupted between his lips, apologizing profusely. Rhys gulped down as much of her tangy juice as possible and rolled onto his back, gasping for air. Next to him, Elara knelt with spread knees, one hand caressing her sex. She suckled hungrily at her fingertips and blushed furiously when their eyes met.

"Why... are you always doing that?" Borna sputtered. Her stinger snaked across Rhys' legs and fished for the towel which she used to cleanse the mess he had made on her stomach.

Rhys grinned weakly. "Tonight I did it mainly because I knew how quickly you'd finish. Sorry for being such a mean bastard."

Borna shook her head. "I'm not complaining. Thank you. Just pretend I'm not here from now on."

"I think neither Rhys nor I can do that," Elara purred, sliding under the covers. "Thank you for letting me watch. And finger myself while doing it."

Borna shook her head. "I'm amazed you can even think about sex after Hilgrun's death. Aren't you grieving?"

"I am. I miss her terribly. But seeing you and Rhys together, having the both of you near me, is reminding me that I shouldn't obsess about the dearly departed alone. As a healer, I should make sure that the living are kept alive and in one piece. Even if it is the hardest thing to do right now." She pulled Rhys into a gentle embrace. He was already mostly asleep, with his cheek against her breast, murmuring peacefully. "Once this is all dealt with, I wouldn't mind the two of you... being very naughty with me."

Borna stretched languidly behind Rhys' back, eyeing Elara. "Did you just say 'the two of you?'"

"It is obvious that you have calmed down significantly since your disastrous night with Galdor," Elara remarked, caressing Rhys' hair. "And you know how much of a slut I am."

Borna scooted closer and snuggled up to Rhys' back. Elara, with her elven night vision, could clearly see her engorged phallus slide between the sorcerer's scarred butt cheeks.

"You're in good company then, I guess," Borna growled softly, blowing Elara a kiss. "Sleep tight, princess."

* * * *

Faedal entered her chamber, again wearing clothes instead of armor and again sporting that irritating, friendly smile. Celeste tried not to react but her hand holding her honeyed bread began to shake.

"What kept you?" she asked, sarcasm dripping from every word. "Yesterday, you woke me."

Faedal pulled a chair close and sat down, completely at ease. If her less than deferential tone bothered him, it didn't show.

"My scouts have given me a report I needed to follow up on," he calmly explained. "It seems my former master has disappeared from his fortress."

"Is that so special?"

"It is. Ever since I became his second-in-command, Carver has left his fortress less and less, much too preoccupied with managing his growing fiefdom and hatching plans to expand it even further. To see him gone from his home is curious."

"Do you think he's planning to finish you off?"

Faedal offered her a thin-lipped smile then shook his head. "If he were, he wouldn't bother to come personally. He has more than enough capable people to send on such a mission. Too bad I trained most of them myself. But that's not important right now. I have been thinking about what you told me yesterday. I would like to hear again how Desire chose you. Don't leave out any detail, no matter how insignificant you think."

"Why? How is my transformation relevant for your plans to kill Carver?"

"It is less about your transformation and more about the way Lady Desire operates. So far, I have lived mostly oblivious to the grander schemes afoot, reveling in the gifts She has bestowed upon me. Now that I am cut off from my original benefactor, it would behoove me to learn as much about Her whims and motivations, the way she schemes and plans. Maybe I can gleam a weakness Carver might not even know about. Maybe I can learn ways to rid myself of some of the side effects of Her boons. Who knows? If I learned anything from being amidst schemers and mages, it's this: Knowledge is power." He gnashed his teeth. "And believe me, there are others about who might be able to enlighten me but I'd rather fuck myself with a flanged mace than visit that deranged woman in Stoneridge again."

"Have you tried actually asking Desire for guidance?" Celeste asked.

Faedal shot her a knowing smile. "Have you? In your situation, I would wager that asking a divine patron for help would be pretty high on your list of things to do."

Celeste averted her gaze. "I'm afraid what she would ask of me if I did," she confessed softly. "Her proclamation after reawakening my magic... it was so vague, it could mean anything and nothing. 'I've only taken what you won't miss,' she said."

"Have you figured out what she meant by that?" Faedal asked, intrigued.

Celeste shook her head. "In case you forgot already -- I am your prisoner. Being locked up isn't helpful when trying to ponder the deeper meaning of a divine pact."

"I thought solitude might help. Besides, you are free to leave your room whenever you wish. I even provided clothing."

"Still, I am a prisoner. Your enchanted collar is a potent reminder." Celeste raised her hand and moved it towards the back of her neck. In response, the black velvet collar she wore hissed and grew long, shadowy blades which would mangle her fingers long before she could even reach the silvery clasp holding it shut.

"Let's call it a precaution. Even if I won't get harmed by your magic directly, I don't want you to bring my home down around us. Or kill even more of my men." Faedal took a slice of apple off her breakfast tray and popped it into his mouth. He chewed with relish. "Once I have my answers, you are free to leave."

"I have a hard time believing that," Celeste grumbled.

Faedal raised an eyebrow, his void-like gaze locked with hers. "Really? When did I start lying to you?"

"How should I know? I was much too busy screaming while you raped and hurt me!"

"I told you, even as I cut your skin and bit your neck, once you submit to me, the pain will stop." He smiled again. "You preferred to fight and claw so I had no other recourse but to try and break you."

"You knew I'd rather die than willingly have you fuck me."

"True. Yet I would have stopped the second you yielded. I may have renounced my vows to Lord Justice but old habits die hard. I offered you a choice and you refused."

Celeste shivered. "How many others did you offer that same chance?"

"Are you talking about the elves I murdered and raped?"

"You tell me." Celeste suddenly wasn't hungry any more. Rhys had told her how Carver went about raising the undead spellcasters, Raighbaern, using the blood of numerous elves Faedal brutally butchered, not caring if they lived when he abused their bodies. She pushed the tray away and withdrew into the farthest corner of the room, well away from the smiling monster opposite her.

"I will not pretend that I only did it to help out Carver. He requires a constant source of suffering in his vicinity and if sating my perverted desires resulted in generating such, I was happy to oblige. I had as much pussy and ass as I wanted and no one cared if they were willing."

"What did you do to Rhys' sister?" Celeste asked. Saying his name sent a jolt of joy through her body, from her lips straight between her thighs. She blinked in surprise. Arousal was the last sensation she needed right now.

Faedal growled. "I will deal with that Rhys boy soon enough. He is the source of all my woes. Without his meddling, I would still be with Carver." He balled his fist. "Mark my words, Celeste. When I am through with him, he will beg for a quick death. As for his sister... my men and I had our fun with her. Made her a woman and then some. A feisty one she was. One of my men lost a lot of blood because of her teeth."

"If you lay a hand on Rhys, I will kill you," Celeste vowed, clamping her thighs shut in annoyance.

"You will need to find a way to do that," Faedal said. "Your Desire-given powers won't work on me and in a straight fight, I will end you before you could even land a hit on me. You can't assassinate me in bed either because you are not worth fucking anymore."

"Oh? You seemed very eager before," Celeste snarled.

"You used to have an air of purity around you, some intangible quality which made you irresistible. You were no virgin, obviously, but there was... something which put all my hairs on end whenever I saw you." Faedal narrowed his eyes and looked her over. "No idea if it's your vow to Desire or something else entirely but you're spoiled now."

"You're one to talk," Celeste spat. "Your contaminated seed nearly killed me!"

Faedal simply shrugged. "You asked, remember? Maybe it really is Desire's touch. Your aura reminds me of Danetta in Stoneridge and I'd rather fuck a basket full of razors than stick my cock anywhere near that woman." He shivered in disgust. "Now, how exactly do you want to end me?"